Plant-protector.



E. R. DRAKE.

PLANT PROTECTOR. APPLICATION FILED MAY 295 1913.

Patented Oct. 28, 1913.

INVENTOR KIM/xvi fl/m/rj WITNESSES ATTORNEY8 COLUMDI A PLANDGRAFH conwAsmNhToN. D. c.

' the rays of the sun EDWIN R. DRAKE, OF DE LAND, FLORIDA.

PLANT-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 28, 1913.

Application filed. May 29, 1913. Serial N 0. 770,649.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN R.'DRAKE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of De Land, in the county'of Volusia and State of Florida, have invented an Imp-rovement in Plant-Protectors, ofwhich the fol lowing is a specification.

My present invention is an improvement upon the one for which I have received Letters Patent No. 932,972, issued August 31, 1909, the same being particularly adapted for use in the cultivation of tomatoes, egg plants, peppers, and various other vegetables.

The construction and arrangement of parts embodying the invention are as hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the protector. Fig. 2 is an end view of a portion of the same. Fig. 8 is a vertical section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

I erect a skeleton frame which is rectangular and oblong, as shown in Fig. 1, the same being so arranged that it ranges east and west, the longer sides being thus north and south. The frame comprises six vertical posts indicated by numerals l and 2, there being three posts on each of the longer sides. Opposite end posts 1 and 1 are connected by upper and lower cross-bars 3 and 4, and the middle posts 2 are similarly connected by upper and lower cross-bars 5 and 6. The posts on each side are connected at the top by bars 1. The lower cross-bars at, 4, and 6 are located about twelve inches from the ground, and the several posts 1 and 2 are extended upward a considerable distance. Boards or planks 7 and 7 are laid parallel and supported on the three cross-bars a and 6, along the south side-of the frame and adjacent to a row of plants as. The first board or plank is placed three inches from the plants, and the second is four inches. Thus, a desired measure of protection is furnished for the plants where are hottest, and, later, another board or plank (not shown) is laid on the cross-bars a and 6 and spaced four inches from the second plank 7. N0. 20 wires 8 are stretched parallel to each other from one end cross-bar at to the other one,

passing intermediately over the central cross-bar 6. These wires are spaced eight inches apart over a row of plants and between the boards or planks 7. and 7, their function being to support the plants. Other wires, 9, are subsequently stretched parallel to the first ones and placed nine inches apart. All the wires are attached, that is to say, coiled about, nails 10 which are driven into the end cross-bars 4. The wires are secured to the middle cross-bar 6 by means of staples 11.

In practical construction of the protector, I preferably employ boards or planks which are 1X6"X12, and the upper and lower cross-bars are preferably 1"X3. The posts 1 and 2 may also be made of very light material.

It will be understood that the object of using the boards 7 and 7 on the south side of the frame is to blend the rays of the sun from the time the plants are set out, that is to say, to prevent the rays striking the plants with full force; and the object in using the wires, as before intimated, is to hold up the plants or vines and keep the same ofi the ground.

The top portion of the framework, comprising the longitudinal bars 1 and cross bars 3 and 5, serve, when occasion requires, for supporting burlap or other coarse fabric or planks, which may be used for protecting the plants, in addition to the protection afforded by the boards or planks supported on the cross-bars 4 and 6.

I claim The improved plant-protector, comprising a skeleton frame including a series of posts arranged as described and end and intermediate cross-bars attached to said posts and located a short distance above the ground,

parallel wires secured to and stretched be-v tween the end cross-bars and over the inter mediate one and spaced apart to adapt them for supporting plants, and a series of planks resting on the three cross-bars and made of considerably less width tween the wires, as described.

EDWIN R. DRAKE. Witnesses: r

T. E. ARNOLD, E. B. WILLCOXAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

than the space be 

